Linas Jegelevičius for the BNN
Last week, the top news in Lithuania were allowing letters ‘q’, ‘x’ and ‘w’ in personal identification documents, a «citizens’ delegation» to Minsk and concern about foreign investors in Lithuania amid China row.
Court postpones hearing of Ukrainian citizen’s appeal in January 13 case
The Court of Appeal of Lithuania on Monday, January 17, postponed the hearing of an appeal from Oleksandr Radkevich, a Ukrainian citizen sentenced in the high-profile January 13 case in Lithuania who is now in detention in Greece. A panel of three judges on Monday decided to postpone the hearing until February 8. He was in absentia sentenced to four years in prison in the January 13 case.
«Citizen delegation» leaves for Minsk amid propaganda warning
A group of people who call themselves «a delegation of Lithuanian citizens» left on Monday, January 17, for Belarus, stating their wish to restore ties between Vilnius and the Minsk regime. Erika Švenčionienė, who leads the group of seven people, said the incumbent government in Belarus is legitimate and one needs to talk to it. The group includes members of the Dawn of Justice movement, which is a new movement founded by Algirdas Paleckis, the leader of the former Socialist people’s Front. They met with Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei, representatives of the Culture Ministry, the parliament, media outlets. Political expert Vytis Jurkonis warns that Belarus might make use of the visit for propaganda.
Ministry admits concern about foreign investors’ plans amid China pressure
Lithuanian Economy and Innovation Minister Aušrinė Armonaitė admitted on Monday, January 17, that «there is concern” about foreign investors’ plans due to China’s actions, adding that the situation is expected to be de-escalated. The media reported in December that China was pressuring Germany’s car parts giant Continental to stop using components made in its Lithuanian plant. Elijus Čivilis, head of Invest Lithuania, has said recently said that 40 percent of surveyed Lithuanian companies are experiencing difficulties due to China’s sanctions. Lithuania has angered China by allowing Taiwan to open its representative office in Vilnius under the name «Taiwanese» instead of «Taipei». In retaliation, China last autumn halted freight trains to Lithuania, stopped issuing food export permits, cut credit limits and raised prices for Lithuanian companies, and removed Lithuania from its customs systems.
Parliament allows foreign language letters in ID documents
Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament, on Tuesday, January 18, allowed the original spelling of non-Lithuanian names in Latin-based characters in personal documents. The bill passed in a vote of 82 to 37 with three abstentions and will come into force if it is signed into law by President Gitanas Nausėda. The bill allows using the letters ‘q’, ‘x’ and ‘w’, which do not exist in the Lithuanian alphabet, to spell the names of Lithuanian citizens if they assume their spouses’ non-Lithuanian surnames. The parliament rejected a proposal from the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania–Christian Families Alliance’s MPs to allow Latin-based characters with diacritical marks in documents.
Lithuanian MPs reject ruling block’s bid to liberalise alcohol sale
Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament, on Tuesday, January 18, voted down the ruling block’s initiatives aimed at liberalising the existing rules on the sale of alcohol, regarding the age census and the time of sale. It means that the start of the sale of alcohol will not be moved from 10 a.m. to noon. Moreover, people under the age of 18 will not be able to buy strong alcoholic beverages.63 lawmakers voted in favour of rejecting the proposed amendments, 51 were against. The Seimas, however, leaned towards lifting certain restriction for alcohol advertising as of May 1 and also relax the rules for the sale of alcohol during mass events. Some 24 percent of deaths in Lithuania are alcohol-linked.
Swedbank cuts Lithuania’s GDP growth forecast to 3.2 percent
Swedbank has cut its 2022 GDP growth forecast for Lithuania to 3.2 percent due to growing inflation and geopolitical tensions. The bank estimates the country’s economy expanded 5.4 percent last year. In November, the bank expected Lithuania’s GDP to grow 3.3 percent in 2022 after expanding 5 percent in 2021. The average pay is projected to grow 8.7 percent this year, and the unemployment level is expected to go down to 6.6 percent. Swedbank says the average annual inflation is expected to reach 7 percent and drop to 2.7 percent next year.
Parliament rejects mandatory vaccinations for medical, social workers
Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament on Thursday, January 20, failed to adopt draft legislation that would have introduced mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for health and social sector workers. Sixty MPs voted in favour of compulsory vaccinations, 53 voted against and ten abstained. The amendments were initiated by the government, which said the measure was aimed at ensuring that health and social care facilities can operate safely amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The amendments would have made vaccinations mandatory for people working in health and social care facilities, including those providing services there, such as cleaning and food services. Three months after their suspension, employers would have had the right to terminate their employment without prior notice or severance pay.
Lithuania postpones 5G frequency auction procedures
Lithuania is once again postponing the procedures of its first 5G frequency auction, the vz.lt news website reported on Friday, January 21. Mobile operators that wished to take part in the 700 MHz frequency band auction were expected to submit their applications by January 25 but the deadline has now been postponed for two months after a government commission asked for additional data mobile operators and the Communications Regulatory Authority cannot collect in a short period of time.
Lithuania reports record 6,478 new Covid-19 cases, 12 deaths
Lithuania has recorded a new daily high of 6,478 coronavirus infections and twelve deaths from Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Friday, January 21. Eleven of the latest fatalities were either not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated. Overall, 595,700 people in Lithuania have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. The death toll has reached 7,700.
Week in Lithuania: ‘Q’, ‘X’ and ‘W’ allowed in IDs, ministry concerned about foreign investors’ over China
